Circular Economy Could Save $100bn On Waste Management Costs Annually

That is the headline findings from the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 (GWMO 2024) report. The new study is the biggest update on global waste generation and the cost of waste and its management since 2018.

UNEP’s report found that municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. When combining factors such as pollution, poor health and emissions from poor waste disposal practices, UNEP warns that this rise will cost $361bn, up from a direct cost of $252bn in 2020.

The report emphasises embracing better waste management controls and focusing on prevention as part of a switch to a circular economy could drastically cut costs. UNEP found that better waste municipal waste management alone could limit net annual costs by 2050 to $270.2bn, but that decoupling waste generation from economic growth and promoting waste avoidance could deliver a net gain of $108.5bn annually.

“Waste generation is intrinsically tied to GDP, and many fast-growing economies are struggling under the burden of rapid waste growth.” UNEP’s executive director Inger Andersen said.

“By identifying actionable steps to a more resourceful future and emphasising the pivotal role of decision-makers in the public and private sectors to move towards zero waste, this Global Waste Management Outlook can support governments seeking to prevent missed opportunities to create more sustainable societies and to secure a liveable planet for future generations.”

Report download available here: https://www.unep.org/resources/global-waste-management-outlook-2024

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